IT MAY be something of a myth that there are no easy games in the Premier League but, as Harry Redknapp knows only too well after Saturday's match, there are very few easy away games. The Spurs boss has guided his side...

IT MAY be something of a myth that there are no easy games in the Premier League but, as Harry Redknapp knows only too well after Saturday's match, there are very few easy away games.

The Spurs boss has guided his side through some difficult early season trips and, with the exception of a 5-1 mauling of beleaguered Hull City in August, Spurs have been given stern examinations on each occasion.

That is unlikely to change after the international break, with Tottenham's next three away matches taking them to Redknapp's former employers Portsmouth, and Champions League chasing Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Early season upsets for several of the top sides have left Redknapp in no doubt as to the difficulty of such trips, but he remains confident his side have the momentum to transfer their ever-impressive home form to the road.

"Easy games? It shows, Wigan turning Chelsea over the other week, there's no gimmes in there," said Redknapp.

"Going away from home is never easy, it's always difficult, but we are playing well - we've had two great wins in the cup away from home and a couple of great wins in the league as well away from home, so we're going okay."

As well as Wigan humbling Chelsea at the DW Stadium, Burnley famously claimed the scalp of Manchester United at Turf Moor, and followed that up by beating Everton.

Arsenal fell at Manchester City, and Spurs themselves defeated Liverpool, all inside the first month and a half of the campaign.

Tottenham currently have the third best away record in the league behind Manchester United and Chelsea, with seven points from four games.

That is a a better total than both Arsenal and Liverpool, and would put Spurs comfortably inside the top four should they continue at the same pace.

The Lilywhites' new-found steel was in evidence again against Bolton, and was already seen earlier in the season when they came from behind to take three points from West Ham at Upton Park.

And it is exactly that toughness away from White Hart Lane that could be the difference between Spurs finally realising their Champions League ambitions, or another season on the sidelines.

Away games seem never to have been as challenging as they are this season, in one of the most open Premier League races for years.